There are a lot of folk-pop, or 鈥渞ockgrass,鈥� or alt-country acts in Canada. There are also tons of roots-influenced bands blasting out toe-tapping tunes. There are even a few that wrap their lyrical melancholy in a sonic smile.
But none of them do it quite like The Strumbellas.
The six-piece band out of Toronto earned a Juno nod earlier this year for their second album We Still Move On Dance Floors. And while their legacy has yet to completely unfold, the group has proven one important thing: it鈥檚 possible for a band that started as a Craigslist post to win one of Canada鈥檚 top music awards.
Six years ago Simon Ward followed his girlfriend out of northern Ontario to Toronto. He鈥檇 been writing songs since he was eight years old, but had never really played in an organized group. But once he got to the city he 鈥渞andomly just decided to see what it would be like to start a band.鈥�
Ward had no vision: he had no idea what kind of arrangement he wanted, no thoughts on how many members the group should have鈥攏o real plan at all. But he threw an ad up on Craigslist, linked it to a demo track, and before he knew it people started knocking at his door.
The very first of those was The Strumbellas鈥� current keyboard player, David Ritter. As Ward remembers it, Ritter showed up at his door without a whole lot to offer.
鈥淚t was hilarious, he just came to my door and was like 鈥榟ey man, I heard your stuff and I鈥檓 thinking about joining your band.鈥� I was like 鈥榳hat do you play?鈥� and he was like 鈥榳ell I don鈥檛 really play anything.鈥欌��
Ward didn鈥檛 have high hopes for his first potential recruit, but after spending some time with Ritter he realized it might be a good fit鈥攁nd 鈥渓o and behold he鈥檚 still in the band,鈥� Ward said with a laugh.
About a dozen others showed up that day, many of whom Ward had to reject out of hand. But after about two years of 鈥渉ard goodbyes and some good welcomings鈥� the lineup finally solidified. Today, the group consists of Ward on vocals and guitar, Ritter on keys, Jon Hembrey on lead guitar, Isabel Ritchie on violin, Darryl James plucking the bass, and Jeremy Drury banging the drums.
鈥淚 had no plan at all,鈥� Ward remembered. 鈥淚 had never been in a band before so I had no idea what I was doing, and I still don鈥檛 know what I鈥檓 doing.鈥�
Ward joked that he is 鈥渢he worst guitar player on Earth,鈥� and that he doesn鈥檛 even consider himself a musician. But his songs helped propel the group to its Juno win, and the Strumbellas growing fan base is a testament to its musical chops.
鈥淚t鈥檚 a great thing that people are moved to listen to our music, which is totally special to me, but of course it freaks me out,鈥� Ward said.
Trevor Nichols
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